Have yourself a merry gizmas: Top 10 gadget gift guide

This Christmas the best things really do come in small ­packages

Samsung Galaxy SIII (£42 per month)

This is one of the leading smartphones on the market and comes packed with new facial recognition software, a stunning 4.8in Super AMOLED HD screen and 8MP camera.

The main drawback is its size, but if you can get past that, it’s the phone for you.

Free on Vodafone Red Data price plans from £42 per month, including unlimited minutes/texts and 2GB of web access.

Fujifilm Finepix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100 (from £699.99)

It’s so frustrating spending loads of cash on a top digital camera if your mobile can get the same results. And with the filters on Instagram, it makes retro snappers redundant.

But this vintage-style SLR doesn’t just look awesome – it’s also stuffed with tech including HD video recording with stereo sound, making it ­reasonably priced for what you get.

Sphero

Sphero

Sphero (£99)

It's the world's first robotic ball gaming system that you control with a tilt, touch, or swing from your smartphone or tablet.

Roll it, race it, or challenge yourself with Drive, Golf and more. Your experience changes with every new app.

Using Bluetooth Technology, the Sphero is compatible with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Android device and can be played as quickly as you can download a gaming app.

LeapPad 2

LeapPad 2 (from £89.99)

THIS successor to the best-selling kids’ tablet ­features upgraded cameras and even more processing power and storage – but its key selling point remains accessibility.

Under-sevens will easily get to grips with entertainment and educational apps. But the lack of Wi-Fi and internal rechargeable battery is still annoying.

Ruark R2i (from £279)

The iPod dock market is huge, so full ­credit to this stylish bit of kit for managing to stand out.

It comes complete with a DAB+FM tuner and aux inputs for other gizmos, while the impressive volume is down to hi-fi speakers and enhanced 3D sound processing. It’s compatible with the iPhone 5 and comes in three styles: wooden, glossy black and bright white.

iPad Mini (from 269)

This Christmas the best things really do come in small ­packages. The iPad Mini squeezes the full-fat iOS tablet experience into a slimmed-down form that fits perfectly into your palm.

Inevitably, the Apple price premium applies, but the ­crucial advantage the Mini has over cheaper Android alternatives is that exquisite end-user experience. Ultimately, you get what you pay for.

Livescribe Sky (from £159.99)

For anyone whose diary is stuffed full of meetings or ­university lectures, the Livescribe Sky has the capacity to transform the way you work.

The pen has a built-in voice recorder that creates an audio track linked to your notepad thanks to special digitised paper, giving you a complete record of any meeting. It’s chunky, but once you’re used to it you’ll wonder how you lived without it.

Otone Aporto (£29.99)

The Otone Aporto is a compact ­travel speaker that undoubtedly punches well above its weight.

With a three-watt speaker in each module, it offers much better sound quality than you would think for the relatively small amount of money you’ll have to part with. These are simple but well-built speakers – perfect for a stocking filler.

Fitbit One (£79.99)

New Year often means ­trying your best to shake off those bad habits – and the Fitbit One might be the thing to help you on your way.

It’s a wireless activity and sleep ­tracker that helps you get on the move, sleep better and eat smarter, giving you a 24/7 picture of your fitness.

What helps the Fitbit stand out is it uploads to your phone or PC so you know how close you are to your goals.

Acer C7 Chromebook (from £199)

If you want a laptop just to surf the web, keep up on social ­networks and do a bit of online shopping, then a Chromebook is likely to be an ideal fit.

The latest ­innovation from Google keeps your data stored in the cloud, which means it comes with a very healthy Christmas price tag – perfect for students and people who are constantly on the move.

Likemycase.com (from £16.99)

Anyone with a smartphone will tell you a case is essential to protect it. But ­Likemycase.com goes one better, offering personalised shells.

Available for a range of mobiles including the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy SIII and BlackBerry, you can design your own unique case (like this pint of lager) or upload a picture to the site for a thoughtful Christmas gift.